Belt-lacing device



W. A. LING. BELT LACING DEVICE.

APPLICATION HLED JAN.27, 1920- 1,409,742.

Patented Mar 14, 1922'.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BELT-LACING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

Application filed January 27, 1920. Serial No. 354,430.

To all whom it may con 0cm Be it known that 1, human A. LKNG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Belt-Lacing Devices, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to belt lacing devices, and more particularly to a combined belt punch and forming press for metallic lacers of the helical type.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure, as well as the means and mode of operation of applying helical belt laces whereby the belt lacing devices will not only be. cheapened in construction, but will be more efficient in operation, economical in manufacture, compact, easily operated, and unlikely to get out of repair.

It has long been the practice to use a helical metallic belt lace, threaded successively through the end of the belt and then collapsed. The use of these helical belt lacers, has heretofore involved the use of a special apparatus of rather coinplicated character, which in some instances forms the lace itself, and at the same time projects it through the end of the belt, and in other instances involves the use of a spiral needle, passed successively through the end of the belt, and followed by the lace wire guided through suitable spiral guide rolls.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an economical and eilicient de vice for applying the helical belt laces which while perhaps not so rapid inoperation, will be so inexpensive as to be within the reach of the small machine shop, or mill, which is not justified in installing the more expensive types of machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and eflicient means for locating the lace folds at a predetermined distance from the end of the belt and for simultaneously piercing the belt at spaced intervals for the reception of the helical lace, and thereafter collapsing the inserted lacing device.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in'view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the feature of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation or their equivalents as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims,

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled lace applymg apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the actuating connection. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the end of a belt within the perforations of which a helical belt lace has been partially inserted. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the belt lace after being collapsed.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several v1ews.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings comprises a base 1,

' carrying an upright guide standard 2, upon which is mounted a reciprocatory prcsser head 3. The presser head 3 is provided with an undercut or gibbed slot 1, in the rear face thereof, within which engages the lateral guide flanges 5, of the standard 2. In its lower face the plunger head 3 carries a series of spaced punch pins 6. For convenience of manufacture and of replacement in the event of breakage, the punch pins 6, are assembled in a perforated bar 7, removably secured to the bottom of the plunger head The punch pins 6 are preferably, though not necessarily provided with enlarged heads 8 which bear upon a hardened thrust plate 9, interposed between the plate 7 and the head 3. This method of removably mounting the pins is merely suggestive, it being obvious that other methods of attachment may be substituted. For instance, the punch pins 6 might be screw threaded into the plate 7, or directly into the plunger head 3. The base 1 is provided with a laterally disposed recess or pocket 10, into which the end of the belt to which the lace is to be applied is inserted. The base is provided with a series of holes 11 each of which is in registry with one of the punch pins 6. The holes 11 extend through the base 1 intersecting the pocket or recess 10.

In those instances wherein the holes for the belt lace are to be located at a predetermined distance from the end of the belt, or

when the apparatus is designed for use upon a single size of belts, the base 1 may be formed solid with a pocket or recess 10, extending only the required distance beyond the series of holes 11. However, for convenience of adjustment in the event that belt laces of different sizes are to be used and to make the device applicable to different types of belt, the pocket or recess 10 may be f With the devices heretofore in use, some difextended entirely through the base 1, anda gage slide 12, adjustably inserted therein from the rear, as shown in Fig. 2. Such gage slide may be held in the adjusted position by set screws 13. By adjusting the slide 12 toward or from the row of holes 11, the distanceof the perforations of the belt from the end thereof may be regulated. To reciprocate the plunger head 3, there is provided in the upright standard 2 a r vol uble stud shaft 14, carrying at its outer end a hand lever 15, and at its inner end a wrist plate or crank head 16. The wrist pin or stud 17 of this crank head is connected by a link' 18 with a stud 19 carried by the plunger head 3. The rear face of the plunger head 3 is recessed to receive the link 18 and provide forits oscillatory movement upon the rotation ofthe stud shaft 14:. Like the pin attachment, this oscillating means is merely illustrative and other actuating apparatuses might be substituted therefor, as for instance, a rack and pinion movement, The end of the belt to beoperated upon is inserted within the recess or pocket 10 and the plunger head 3 is reciprocated downward by the oscillation of the hand lever 15 to project the punch pins 6 through the holes 11 and thence through the inserted end of the belt. This provides in the belt a series "of spaced holes uniformly separated from each other, and from the end of the belt. A helical. belt lace 20 is then threaded through the holes 21 formed in the end of the belt, by rotating the lacing device 20 causing the end to be successively injected through the holes'21, as shown in Fig. 4. After being so engaged it is necessary that the helical lace be collapsed to substantially the thickness of the belt, and furthermore, inorder that the lacing devices carried by the opposite end of the belt be properly interlocked with the ends of the belt in alinement. It is necessary that the coils of the helical lace be deflected into parallelism.

ficulty has been experienced by the tendency ,of the helical lace or coil to turn laterally "during the 50,

the coil are thrown out of alinenient one collapsing operation, whereby the opposite sides of each turn or bight of with the other. For the purpose ofcollapsing theinserted 0011 or helical lace with the turns or bights thereof, properly relationed,

the. upper face of the base member 1 and lower face of the plate 7 are/formed with a series of substantially parallel'grooves or corrugations 22 extending outwarc'lly from the lineof the punch pin 6 and holes. 11,

an'dat ri'ght angles to the general direction ojv the series of holes and punch pins. The {helical lace, having been inserted in the per V forations of i the belt endas is shown in 4a," the belt end carrying the lace is then inserted beneath the base 1, and plunger head 3 of the apparatus, and the hand lever 15 is again operated to depress the plunger head 3 to apply pressure to the coiled lace 20; The successive turns or coils of the lace wire being engaged in the holes previously formed by the punch press will be spaced in uniform relation with the pin, between which the successive coils will project when inserted between the base 1 and head 3 for compression. The punch pin thus will serve to hold the coils upright during the collaps'ing operation, preventing them from overlying or overlapping each other to one side or the other. During this pressing operation the successive coils or turns of the lace which are normally inclined or diagonally arrangedare guided by the parallel corrugations 22 into anassurned parallel relationship as shown partic1.1larlyin Fig. 5. p

If it be desired that the holes in one end of the belt be slightly offset inrelation with those in the opposite end of the belt to facilitate the inter-engagement of the belt'laces, with the beltlends in alinement, the terminal hole 11 and plunger pin 6 at one end of the series may be located'slightly closer to the side of the recess or pocket 10, than the terminal pin and hole at the opposite end of the series. By this means the relation of the holes in the opposite ends of the belt may be conveniently ga'ged by placing the lateral margin of one end of the belt against one side of the pocket 10 during the perforating operation, and when per forating the opposite end of the/belt, engagmg the opposite marginal side thereof,

against the opposite side of the pocket or arrangement ofparts without. departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages, V V I While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or'less specific as" to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details.

shown, butthat the means and construction herein disclosed compr se but one. of several modes of putting the. invention into efiect,

and the invention. is therefore claimed in any of its formsor'niodifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

ilaving thus described my invention, l claim:

l. in an apparatus of the character described, two relatively movable members, one of said members having a pocket therein for the introduction of the end of a belt, a series of punch pins carried by the other iember and projected through the wall of said pocket and the belt and contained therein by the relative movement of the members, the terminal pin, at one end or the series being located in different spaced relation with the adjacent side wall oi" the pocket, than the spaced relation oi the terminal pin at the opposite end oi the series with the corresponding opposite pocket wall, and means for relatively moving said members.

In an apparatus of the character described, a series of spaced puncture pins, a support tor the work, means for relatively moving the support and pins to cause the pins to pass through the work upon the support, and stops at the opposite ends of the series of pins differently spaced in re-. lation with the terminal pins of the series by the use or which successive punchings may be effected in oflfset relation.

In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with two relatively movable jaws, of a series of spaced members extending transversely across the intervening space intermediate the relatively movable jaws, substantially in the direction of movement thereof, between which are insertable the successive coils of a helical wire whereby the coils are supported during compression by relative movement of the l. In an apparatus of the character described, base member having a transverse slot in a lateral face thereof, and a series of vertically disposed holes intersecting said slot, an upright guide portion carried by the base, areciprocatory head upon said guide, a series ot punch pins carried by said head and extending within the holes in said base, said. pins serving to perforate a belt end at spaced intervals, and subsequently serving to locate and support in upright position, the successive coils of a belt lace engaged in the holes previously formed by said pins, the adjacent faces of the head and base being corrugated substantially as specified.

5. in an apparatus of the character described, a press comprising two relatively movable jaw members, a series of punch pins carried by one of the jaws for supporting in upright position the coils of a belt lace, introduced therebetween, while said jaw members are operated to collapse said coils, a socket recess in the other jaw, the last mentioned jaw having therein a series of holes through which the punch pins are projected across the socket upon the closing of the jaws, to punch a series of holes to receive the belt lace to be subsequently com pressed by said jaws, and means to relatively move said jaws.

6. In an apparatus of the character described. two relatively movable jaws, having in their adjacent faces series of corrugations extending perpendicular to the lineal extent of the jaws, a series of punch pins carried by one of the jaws, holes in either jaw into which the punch pins are projected upon the closing 01 said aws, and means to relatively move said jaws, said punch pins acting upon initial operation of the jaws to perforate the belt head introduced therebeneath and upon a subsequent operation of the jaws, said pins serve as guides or supports to maintain upright, the coils of the belt lace, engaged in the holes previously formed thereby, and introduce between said jaws for compression by'the relative movement thereof.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, two relatively movable jaws, a series of punch pins carried by one of the jaws between which are insertable the successive coils of a belt lace engaged in holes previously formed by said punch pin, whereby the coils are vertically supported during the relative movement of the jaws each jaw raving formed in the adjacent face thereof a plurality of corrugations extending substantially perpendicular to the lineal disposition or' said punch pins: by which the coils are alined one with the other during the approach of the jaws.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with two relatively movable jaws, of supporting means intermediate the jaws by which the coils of the helical wire may be supported in spaced relation substantially perpendicular to the jaws during the relative movement thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of December, A. D.

WALTER A. LING. Witnesses lVILLIAM A. SWANEY, GEORGE C. HELMIG. 

